Ladle crane



Fen 2a 193m H. M. LANE 1,748,232

LADLE CRANE Filed Feb. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3mm/nier,

Feb. 25,1930.

Filed Feb. 2, 1929 M. LANE ADLE CRANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY M. LANE, OF

LADLE Application filed February This invention relates to ladle cranes; and it comprises a ladle having traversing and elevating means, means for swinging it to afford an adjustment across the horizontal line of travel of the crane for positioning the ladle during pouring operation, and counterbalancing means for overcoming tilting tendency of the ladle and crane; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In certain foundry work and the like it is customary to employ cranes carrying ladles and arranged to travel in a fined horizontal line with means for elevating and lowering the ladle and the operators In my Patent No. 1,683,472 of September l, 1928, I have described and claimed an improvementin such ladle cranes, wherein means are provided for swinging the ladle across the horizontal line of travel of the crane. The ladle 20 frame is mounted so that it is capable of movement either to the right or left of its supporting member and as the crane travels the ladle can be adjusted in pouring position to compensate for normal displacements which would occur by ordinary ladle tilting.

In practice it has been found that with large machines carrying large ladles and heavy operating cages, when the ladle swings across the line of travel of the crane the lower part of the machine tilts to one side, putting quite a strain upon the pivot connection between the frame work carrying the ladle and the cage and interfering with the travel of the crane and ease of manipulation of the ladle. The amount of this tilting is different at different times, depending primarily upon the amount of metal in the ladle, the distance the ladle has been swung out of horizontal line of travel of the crane and to some extent upon the weight and position of the operator in the cage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for compensating for the tendency of the lower frame of the machine to tilt and to automatically balance the frame so that this tilting is overcome.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one form of a specific embodiment of my invention. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crane embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is PATENT FFECE DETROIT, MICHIGAN CRANE 2, 1229. Serial No. 337,030.

a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in dotted lines the position of the control means, when the modified form is used. Fig. 3 is a sectional end view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 of the lower portion of the frame under the operators cage on an enlarged scale. Fig. l is a diagrammatic and schematic view illustrating the circuit for operating the motor; and Fig. 5 is a detail section through one of the mercury cups controlling the circuit. Fig. G is a fragmentary view of the cage showing a modified form, in which the bal" ancing unit is placed at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1.

In general construction the ladle crane is the same as that shown in the patent to which reference has been made. T he trolley frame A is provided with trolley wheels 1 mounted in hangers Q carried by the frame and adapted to travel upon the overhead rail B. A diagrammatically shown motor 3A supplies the power for movement of the trolley wheels 1 while the diagrammatically shown motor 3B supplies power for movement of the ladle carrying frame. A supporting beam C is suspended from the trolley frame by ropes or cables which pass over pulleys 5 and is provided with guide members G. These guide members move vertically in depending guide members 7 formed on the trolley frame A. Pivotally supported to and positioned leneath the beam C is a ladle carrying frame D. 'l1 he ladle 8, used in connection with this machine, is provided with trunnions 9 and 10 for the purpose of engaging` the arms 11 which are connected to the ladle frame D. The trnnnion 10 carries a gear wheel 12 which meshes with a pinion 13 on shaft 1e carried by the arm 15 on the cage 1G. The shaft is journalled in an enlarged bearing 17 in the cage and is provided with a hand wheel 18.

The ladle frame D is supported 'by the beam C at a point preferably in back of the ladle by a pivotal connection 19. The beam C has suitably secured to one side thereof, depending arms 20 provined with rollers 21 on their opposite ends for engaging the underside of the frame I), thereby allowing relatively easy movement between the frames.

il i) The ladle frame is provided with a rack bar 22 suitably secured to the outer surface thereof and adapted to engage a worm gear Shaft 24 upon which this worm is carried is mounted in journals or sleeves 24A, which are carried by a bracket or similar means (not shown) attached to a cross bar of the frame C. This shaft is provided at one end with bevel gear 25 adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 26 carried by the shaft 27. Shaft 27 is carried by the same bracket, as sleeves 25A, all as shown in detail in Fig. 3 of Patent No. 1,683,472. A ball and socket joint 28 connects shaft 27 to the operating shaft 29. Telescopically positioned within the shaft 29 is shaft 30v connected to the hand wheel 31 whereby movement of the ladle frame D with respect to the beam C is controlled. AIf dcsired, the operating shaft 29 may be a ,single shaft and this is advantageously used with equal success.

As so far described, the ladle crane is the same as that described in the patent referred to.

Assuming a gang of molds is to be lilled, the crane carrying the ladle is brought into position between the first molds through operation of the traversing mechanism described. By the elevating mechanism the ladle is raised to the required height and tilted to a position to pour into a lower mold. The ladle is then further elevated and through operation of handle 31, shafts 3() and 29, gears 25 and 26, and pinion 23, the ladle is swung to one side of the normal travel of the crane so that when it is further tilted for the purpose of pouring into the next higher mold to the left its lip will be directly over the sprue. This operation is repeated for filling the next higher mold in the gang. As stated, it has been found that when the ladle is swung to one side or the other of the horizontal line of travel of the crane, the whole frame carrying the ladle and operators cage tends to tilt. In order to overcome this l have provided compensating mechanism which will now the described. The said compensating mechanism may be termed the balancing unit.

Carried, advantageously, innnediately bclow the operators cage is a support or housing 40 riveted or otherwise securely attached in place and journalled in this support 1s the screw 41 having bearings at 42 and 43. This screw carries internally and correspondingly threaded heavy weight 44 adapted to move along the screw as it is turned. At the right the screw 41 carries bevel gear` 45 meshing with corresponding gear 46 carried by shaft of motor 47.

This motor is a reversible motor and is controlled by a suitable electric circuit such for insta-nee as that shown in Fig. 4 properly connected to the opposite ends of controlling means comprising a pipe carrying mercury.

This pipe designated by 51 is located towards the top of the machine, preferably on the frame D ust below the pivotal connection 19 and at either end carries an iron cup 52 in free engagement therewith. Each cup is provided at its top with a porcelain insulator 53 through which extends the terminal 54 which is suitably connected to the proper wires of the electric circuit as shown in F ig. 4. The cups for pipe 51 carry such an amount of mercury that in level position of the frame and consequently the pipe 51, the contacts 54 are not immersed in the mercury but upon tilting of the ladle frame the mercury will flow in the direction of the tilting, whereupon it will contact with the terminal 54 and complete the circuit to energize the motor and operate it in a direction to turn the screw 41 and move the weight 44 in the opposite direction of tilting. As soon as the weight is effective to overcome the tilting or swinging of the frame the mercury will recede from the contact 54 and the motor will be stopped. Of course it is understood that when the ladle frame swings to a position tending to tilt *o the frame upwardly the motor will be operated to drive the weight 44 to the left ,and when the frame swings to a position tendin to tilt the frame downwardly the motor w' drive the weight 44 to the right.

Electrical connection between the electric circuit shown in Fig. 4 and the motor 47 is made by means of connections 48 and 49 aS shown in Fig. 3. 48 indicates a pair of wires which are connected to the armature 73 of the motor and 49 indicates a pair of Wires Connected to the field coil of said motor. 4 there is shown in detail one type of electrical circuit which is suitable for present purposes. The wires 55 and 56 are from a suitable source of current and connected respectively to contact means 57 and 58 which are preferably mounted on beam C. Rigidly mounted on shaft 19 which is a continuation of the pivotal connection 19, are collector rings 59 and 60. T hese collector rings 59 and 60 serve to forln a. connection between the contacting means 57 and 58 with the electric circuit controlling the operation of the motor 47. The collector rings 59 and 60 are provided with cut-away portions 59a and 60a, the purpose of which is to prevent electrical connection between the contacting means 57 and 58 and the collector rings 59 and 60 when the carriage is in line with the monorail B. There is no tendency to tilt when the carriage is in this position and there is no necessity to ha-ve the balancing means in operation. The object ot this arrangement is to prevent any mercury contacts due to the slopping of the mercury when running the crane at considerable speed along the monorail or when turnine` corners. lVhen the carriage is swungout of alignment with the monorail the contacting means 57 and 58 will engage the collector InFig.

rings 59 and 60, tor as the collector rings 59 and 60 are rigidly mounted on 19 they will rotate with the carriage and present to the contacting means 57 and 58 the periphery ot' the collector ring instead of the notched portion. Connected to the respective collector rings 59 and 60 are the wires 6l and 62. The other end of wire 6l is connected to the wires 63 and 64. lVre 63 leads to and is connected with the armature 73 ot the motor 47. The wire 64 is connected by suitable means 65 to the mid-point of pipe 5l. Tire 66 is cor.- nccted to the terminal 54 oll mercurj.VY cup 52 and leads to and is connected with terminal 68 of the switch 69. T here is positioned in wire 66 a limit switch or fuse 67. Connected to switch 69 is wire 70 which leads to and is connected with solenoid 7l. lVires 72 connects the solenoid 7l with the wire 62. The electrical circuit connected to the other mercury cup is similar to the circuit just de scribed and the reference numerals used to indicate the parts of the latter' circuit are primed. Connected to the armature coil 79 is wire 74 which leads to and is connected with wires 75 and 75. The wire 75 is connected to switch 76. Connected to the other terminal 77 of switch 76 is wire 78 which leads to the terminal 79 of field coil 80. Connected to the other terminal 79 ot iield coil 8O is wire 81 which leads to switch 82. fire Sel connects the other terminal 83 oitswitch 82 to the wire 62. The electrical circuit which lies between wires 75 and 62 is the same as the circuit just described and similar reference numerals which are primed are used to indicate like parts. The only difference between these two circuits is that in the latter case the direction of the current through the lield coil is reversed.

Then the carriage is tilted so that the mercury flows and completes the circuit through the left-hand mercury cup 52 the current passes through wire 66 and the circuit connected therewith and energizes the solenoid 7l. Positioned within the solenoid 71 is the core 85 of suitable material. The core 85 is connected by means of rod 86 to switches 69, 76 and 82. lVhen the solenoid 7l is energized the core 85 by means of the rod 86 operates the switches connected therewith. By the operation of the core 85 the switches 76 and 82 are closed and cause current to flow through the electrical cir cuits connected thereto. This current energizes the motor 427 and moves the weight to counterbalance the tilting of the carriage. At the same time that the switches 76 and 82 are closed the switch 69 is opened. The opening of switch 69 prevents any current from flowing through the wires connected to the right-hand mercury cup 52. lVhen the carriage is tilted in the opposite direction the solenoid 7l and the means related thereto operate in a manner similar to that just described except that the current through the field coil 8O is reversed and the counter weight lll is moved in the opposite direction. Connected to the cores 85 and 85 are spring actuated or other suitable means 87 and 87 for maintaining the switches 76, 82, 76, and 82 in open relation when the solenoids 7l ancL 7l are not energized by the current passing therethrough. At the same time the switches 69 and 69 are maintained in closed relation. The above described electric circuitis a satisfactory means for controlling and actuating' the motor 47, but it is obvious that any reversiinT motor or any circuit of well known type may be used and the illustration et the motor and the circuit is diagrammatic.

ln the above description means tor overcoming the tendency of the cage to tilt upwardly or downwardly have been shown. ln ladle cranes as herein described there is also another type of tilting namely, side tilting. This side tilting is overcome in a manner similar to that just described by the arrangement of the balancing unit as shown in Fig. 6, when this modilication is used the control pipe 5l is at right angles to the traine as shown at 5l in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is within the scope of the present invention to use two such balancing units on the cage. That is the combination of the arrangements shown in Figs. l and 6 whereby any tendency of tilting` in any direction is overcome and the ladle crane will remain level at all times.

What I claim is l. In a ladle crane carrying a ladle frame and mechanism for swinging the frame and ladle across the horizontal line of travel of the frame, means for overcoming tilting of the ladle trame comprising a weight carried at a low part ot' the trame and means for moving the weight in an opposite direction of the tilting of the frame.

2. In ladle crane having a frame and a ladle carried thereby and provided with means tor swinging the la lle frame across the horizontal line of travel of the ladle of the frame, means for overcoming tilting of the frame, such means comprising a movable weight and means for automatically moving` the weight in an opposite direction to the tilting of the trame.

3. In a ladle crane having a ladle 'frame and means for swinging the ladle frame across the horizontal line of travel of the crane, counterbalancing mechanism arranged to overcome tilting of the ladle trame occasioned by said swinging of the frame, such counterbalancing mechanism comprising a weight carried at a low point of the trame, means for moving the weight, a motor for operating said last named means and means Jfor operating the motor to cause travel of the weight in an opposite direction to the tilting of the frame.

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4. The combination with a ladle frame carryino' a ladle, of a weight arranged to counter ail-.ance tilting tendency of the frame, means associated with the frame and tilting therewith comprising a pipe-like member containing a fluid electric conducting substance, electric terminals located at either end of said member and Wires leading from said terminals toa motor and connections between said motor and said weight to move the weight when the motor is energized, whereby upon the tilting of the frame and the flowing of said substance to contact with either of the terminals the motor is operated to move said Weight to overcome said tilting.

5. A tilt preventing device for a ladle frame comprisingapipe-like member attached to the frame in a horizontal position and containing a fluid electric conductive substance, reservoirs at each end of said member, electric terminals extending into said reservoirs and wires leading from said reservoirs to a motor, said motor arranged to be driven in opposite directions depending upon which of the said terminals contacts with the said Huid substance, connections from said motor to means carrying a Weight and a Weight on said last named means, whereby operation of the motor through completion of the circuit Will move the weight in a direction opposite to that of the tilting of the frame.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afixed my signature.

HENRY M. LANE. 

